Aluminum cans in wider use for canned coffee

Aluminum cans are increasingly being used for canned coffee in Japan, grabbing market share from steel, the conventional material for containers of the ubiquitous beverage.

According to data from the Japan Soft Drink Association, the market share of steel cans fell to 45.7 percent in 2014, while that of aluminum cans increased to 22.3 percent. Plastic bottles accounted for 20.3 percent.

In the face of growing competition from aluminum cans, steel makers and can manufacturers are working hard to reduce the weight of their products.